6. Erik
Chapter 6
Erik
T he storm continues its relentless siege on the cabin, but inside, a different tempest stirs between Lissy and me. I catch her stealing glances, her eyes darting away when our gazes meet. The air is charged with an unspoken intensity, a current that neither of us can seem to break. "Maybe we should check the weather again," I suggest, hoping to ease the palpable tension.
Huddled together around the old radio, our attempt to tune into the outside world is met with static and uncertainty. I reach to turn the crank, and make sure we have enough power to listen for a bit longer. As our hands brush in the process, a shock of awareness courses through me.
I see Lissy's reaction, a subtle pause, her breath catching. "Seems like we're not going anywhere soon," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but the undercurrents of our situation make it difficult.
We sink into a silence that's heavy with unspoken thoughts. The firelight dances across Lissy's face, accentuating her features in a way that makes my heart skip a beat. There's so much I want to say, so many words on the tip of my tongue, but I find myself speechless, allowing the fire's gentle crackle to fill the void.
I catch myself watching her, captivated by her every move, each gesture revealing more of her true self. "You're not as stuck up as you pretend," I tease, a smile playing on my lips.
Her eyes meet mine, a flicker of mock annoyance quickly giving way to amusement. "And you're barely more than just the jock everyone thinks you are," she retorts. Our laughter echoes through the cabin, a light-hearted reprieve from the tension that has been building.
Our conversations delve into territories usually reserved for those closest to us. Lissy shares her hopes, her fears, the pressures of living a life in the public eye. I listen intently, seeing her in a new light, not just as the social media personality or the girl I've known from our friend group, but as someone complex and real. "It's not just about the likes and followers," she confides, her voice laden with sincerity. "Sometimes, it’s overwhelming." I nod, understanding more than she might realize. In our secluded bubble, the chaos of the outside world seems distant, irrelevant.
The space between us is charged with a myriad of unspoken emotions. But I close the distance between us.
I lean in, and just then she turns her face away from me. I don’t move though. I can’t. I frozen in this moment of rejection.
“I think I’m going to turn in for the night.” She scoots up from the floor to the couch.
I offered to take the floor on the first night. To be perfectly honest, I wish we were sharing a bed.
“Good night, Felicity.”
I lie down, watching the fire dwindle to embers, its warmth enveloping us in a comforting cocoon. The quiet of the cabin is punctuated only by Lissy's soft, rhythmic breathing, a sound that offers an unexpected comfort.
Closing my eyes, I'm haunted by the image of her smile, the sound of her laughter. There's a connection here, something deep and genuine, born out of an unexpected circumstance.